Threshing-machine.



l. A. BERGREN.

THRESHING MACHINE.

`APPLICATION FILED MAY I6, 1914.

Patented May 11, 1915.

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MMA/M@ 7Hl: NORRIS PETERS C0., FHOT0I.ITHO WASHINGTON, D. C.

L A. BERGREN.

mesme MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 16| |914. 1,138,835. Patented May 11, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHUTC-LITHO.. WASHNGUN. D. C.

J. A. BERGREN.

THRESHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED www. 1914.

Patented May11,'1915.

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JOHN A. BERGREN, OF LAKE PARK, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-TENTH TOALFRED F. YOUNGBERG AND TVVO-FIFTHS TO HERMAN S. WILSON, BOTH OF LAKEPARK,

MINNESOTA.

THRESHINGr-MACHINE.

Application led May 16, 1914. Serial N o. 838,988.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. BERGREN, a citizen of the United States,residing yat Lake Park, in the county of Becker 'and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Threshing-Machines;and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Y My invention relates to improvements in threshing machines, and hasfor its object to improve the concave and grate structure; and, to thisend, it consists of the novel devices and combinations of deviceshereinafter described and defined in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters ind icate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front endportion of a threshing machine, having incorporated therein the improvedconcave and grate; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with some partsremoved and some parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal verticalsection taken on the line m3 m3 of Fig. 2, showing all of the concavesections in working positions; Fig. t. is a view corresponding to Fig.3, with the exception that two of the concave sections have been movedto` inoperative positions, and the grate moved into a position to carrythe supplemental section thereof into a position to take the place ofthe intermediate concave section; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig.4, with the exception that the main grate has been moved a distancesuiiicient to permit the lower concave section to be returned to anoperative position between said grate and its supplemental sections;Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the concave sections, some partsbeing removed; Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in side elevation andpartly in section, of two of the concave sections and the operatingmeans for one of said sections, some parts being broken away; Fig. 8 isa detail view, principally in longitudinal section, taken through themain grate and its supplemental section; Fig. 9 is a detail view,principally in section, taken on the line m of Fig. l; Fig. 10 is adetail Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

view, in section, taken on the line 001 001 of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is atransverse vertical section taken on the line m11 x11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 12is a detail view, partly in transverse vertical section and partly inedge elevation; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig.12; and Fig. 14C is a detail view, in section, taken on the line ai frof Fig. 7.

Of the parts of the threshing machine illustrated for the purpose ofshowing my invention Aapplied in working position, it is only necessaryto note the frame 1, toothequipped cylinder 2, driving belt 3, whichruns over a pulley 4 on the shaft 5 of the cylinder 2, the feeder pan G,the grain pan 7, and the stationary finger grate S.

As shown, the bearings for the shaft 5 are mounted on the upperhorizontal edges of a `pair of laterally spaced side plates 9, bolted,or otherwise rigidly secured, one to each side of the frame 1. Theconcave is made up of three tooth-equipped sections, which extend thefull width of the cylinder 2. These concave sections 10 are mounted Vforindependent bodily movements toward and from the cylinder 2, and haveintegrally formed on their ends lugs 11, slidably mounted in guidechannels 12 formed in the inner faces of the side plates 9. The upperlongitudinal edges of the concave sections 10 are formed convex in crosssection, while their lower longitudinal edges are concave, so that theabutting edges of said concave sections will interlock, one with theother, when in operative positions. Opposite pairs of the guide channelsl2 are vertically spaced, one above the other, and are so arranged as tohold the concave sections 10 interlocked when in operative positions,and to require the same to be successively moved to and from operativepositions. To move the concave sections 10 from operative to inoperativepositions, it is necessary to start with the lowermost thereof, and tore verse the order in moving said sections from inoperative to operativepositions.

Various means may be employed for independently moving the concavesections 10 to and from operative positions, and for setting the same indifferent operative positions with respect to the cylinder 2. Toaccomplish these adjustments, is shown pairs of eccentrics 13 keyed toshafts 14 vertically spaced, one above the other, and journaled in theside plates 9. These shafts 14 are rotated by means of hand cranks 15secured to the outer right-hand ends thereof, and are held in differentset positions by means of ratchet wheels 16 and coperating lock dogs 17.The ratchet wheels 16 are rigidly secured to the shafts 14, adjacent tothe cranks 15. and the lock dogs 17 are pivoted to one of the sideplates 9. Two-part eccentric straps 1S are mounted on the eccentrics 13,and are connected to the concave sections 10 by arms 19. The outer endsof these arms 19 are pivotally secured to lugs 11 integrally formed withthe outer end portions of the concave sections 10, and their inner endsare mounted in seats formed in the eccentric straps 18 and detachablysecured thereto by nut-equipped bolts 21 and short studs 22.A By thusdetachably connecting the arms 19 to the eccentric straps 18, t-heconcave sections 10 may be detached from their operating connections, atwill, in case it is necessary or desirable to remove the same from thethreshing machine.

It is important to note that the bottoms of the guide channels 12 areflush with the inner faces of the side plates 9, and their outer endsterminate intermediately between the operative positions of the concavesections 10 and the shafts 14, to permit the lugs 11 of the concavesections 10 to be removed from said channels. After the concave sections10 are free from the guide channels 12, they may be moved or turned invarious positions to pass the same between the shafts 14.

A pair of opposite guide channels 23 are formed in the inner faces ofthe side plates 9, substantially concentric with the cylinder 2 andintersecting the inner ends of the guide channels 12. Slidably mountedin the guide channelsv 23, for movement toward and from the concavesections 10, is a main grate 24 having a supplemental grate section 25.This supplemental grate section is also slidably mounted in the guidechannels 23, and is located between the main grate 24 and the concavesections 10. The outer and inner longitudinal edges of the supplementalgrate section 25 are formed concave and conveX, respectively, so as tointerlock with the concave sections 10. This grate section is of thesame width as the concave sections 10, in order to permit the same totake the place of any one of said concave sections, when the same ismoved into an inoperative position.

When forming a part of the main grate, the supplemental section 25 isdetachably locked thereto by a hook latch 26 and cooperating latch lug27. The hook latch 26 is intermediately pivoted to a depending lug 2Sintegrally formed With the main grate ytion to be automatically locked,

24, and the latch lug 27 is integrally formed and depends from one ofthe grate bars of the supplemental grate section 25. Depending from theunder side of the main grate 24, is a pin 29 which works through aperforation 30 formed in the free end of the hook latch 26. Mounted onthis pin 29, and compressed between the main grate 24 and the hook latch26, is a coiled spring 31, which yieldingly holds said hook latchinterlocked with the latch lug 27. To permit the main grate 24 and itssupplemental secwhen brought together, the hook latch 26 and latch lug27 are formed with reversely beveled surfaces, so arranged as to causesaid hook latch to be cammed past the latch lug.

The main grate 24 is positively moved in the guide channels 24 by a pairof pinions 32, which mesh with segmental racks 33 secured to the underside of said grate. These pinions 32 are rigidly secured to a transverseshaft 34 journaled in the side plates 9. Rotary motion is imparted tothe shaft 34, in either direction, by a lever 35 carrying a pair ofreversely projecting pawls 36, arranged for coperation with a pair ofreversely formed ratchet wheels 37 rigidly secured to the shaft 34. Asbest shown in Fig. 12, the lever 35 is loosely journaled on the shaft 34between the ratchet wheels 37. To lock the shaft 34 against rotation ina direction to prevent the grate 24 from moving away from the concavesections 10, a lock dog 38 is pivoted to one of the side plates 9, andarranged to be thrown into engagement with one of the ratchet wheels 37.The width of the main grate 24 is such that the same always extends overthe free ends of the grate fingers 8, irrespective of the position ofsaid grate.

Vhen the supplemental grate section 25 is moved into a position to takethe place of Vthe, intermediate concave section 10, the

same is securely locked in the guide channels 23 by a lever-equipped jamscrew 39. This screw has threaded engagement with one of the side plates9, and its inner end is arranged to impinge against the adjacent reducedface of the supplemental grate section 25, which slides in guidechannels 23. After said supplemental grate section is locked inposition, the hook latch 26 is released from the latch lug 27 by a cam40 secured to a shaft 41 journaled in the side plates 9. This cam 40 isarranged to operate on the spring-pressed end of the latch hook 26 whenthe main grate 24 is moved into a position, as shown in Fig. 4. Theshaft 41 is oscillated to carry the cam 40 into operative andinoperative positions by a hand crank 42, rigidly secured to the outerright-hand end of said shaft. Integrally formed on the hand crank 42,and concentric with the shaft 40, is an annular head 43 having a pair ofdiametrically opposite notches 44. For locking the cam 40 in either ofits two positions, a lock dog 45 is pivoted to one of the side plates 9and arranged to be turned into interlocking engagement with either oneof the notches 44, depending on the position of the cam 40.

The front end of the threshing machine is normally closed by an end gate46, detachably secured to the outer vertical edges of the side plates 9by thumb-nut-equipped studs 47.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that the concave sections10 may be independently moved to and from operative positions, and maybe set in different operative positions in respect to the cylinder 2, bythe operation of the eccentrics 13. It is also evident that, by removingthe end gate 46 and detaching the concave sections 10 from theiroperating connections, said concave sections may be readily removedthrough the front endof the machine, without disturbing either thefeeder pan 6 or any other of the operative parts of the machine. So faras I am aware, I amthe first to remove a concave, comprising a pluralityof sections, through the front end of a threshing machine and below thefeeder pan 6. By mounting the concave sections for movements toward andfrom the cylinder Q, either one, two or three of said sections may beused, depending on the kind of grain being threshed and the condition ofthe grain, whether wet or dry. When two concave sections are used, asshown in Fig. 5,i the supplemental grate section 25, commonly known as ablank, is mounted between said two concave sections, in place of theintermediate concave section. When one concave section is used, the maingrate and its supplemental section take the place of the two concavesections moved to inoperative positions, as shown in Fig. 4. In case thestraw clogs between the cylinder and concaves, it is an extremely simplematter to throw all of the concave sections into inoperative positions,to release the clogged straw, thus saving a great deal of time andexpense. When machines now in use clog with straw, it is necessary todig out the clogged straw by hand, which requires considerable time.

By the use of my improved concave sections, the same are always carriedwithin the machine ready for use, and the same may be adjusted in trueparallelism with the cylinder in opening and closing the concavesections in respect to the cylinder. By this parallel adjustment of theconcave sections in respect to the cylinder, said concave sections maybe opened up to a sufficient extent to adapt the machine for threshingbeans, which is impossible with ordinary concaves, as all sectionsthereof cannot be adjusted far enough away from the cylinder. In

threshing beans, it is necessary to have a relatively wide openingbetween the cylinder and concaves.

What I claim is:

1. In a threshing machine, the combinament therewith, arranged to takethe place of any one of the movably mounted concave sections, when movedto an inoperative position, and to be separated from said grate topermit one of said movably mounted concave sections to be insertedtherebetween.

2. In a threshing machine, the combination with a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for coperation with said cylinder, certain of said concavesections being mounted for movements toward and from said cylinder, agrate, mounted for substantially concentric movement in respect to saidcylinder, said grate having a supplemental section arranged to take theplace of any one of the movably mounted concave sections, when moved toan inoperative position, and means for locking said supplemental gratesection in a predetermined set position, when taking the place of one ofthe movably mounted concave sections.

3. In a threshing machine, the combination with a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for coperation with said cylinder, certain of'said concavesections being mounted for movements toward and from said cylinder, agrate, mounted for substantially concentric movement in respect to saidcylinder, said grate having a supplemental section arranged to take theplace of any one of the movably mounted concave sections, when moved toan inoperative position, and means for locking said supplemental sectionto said grate for common movement therewith toward and from said concavesections.

4. In a threshing machine, the combination with a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for coperation with said cylinder, certain of said concavesections being mounted for movements toward and from said cylinder, agrate,mounted for substantially concentric movement in respect to saidcylinder, said grate having a supplemental section arranged to take theplace of any one of the movably mounted concave sections, when moved. toan inoperative position, means for locking said supplemental section tosaid grate for common movement therewith toivard and from said concavesections, and means, operative, at Will, for releasing said supplementalsection from ysaid grate.

5. In a threshing machine, the combination With a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for cooperation with said cylinder, certain of said concavesections being mounted for bodily movements to and from operativepositions, said concave sections, when in operative positions, havinginterlocking engagement one with the other.

6. In a threshing machine, the combination With a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for cooperation with said cylinder, certain of said concavesections being mounted for bodily movements to and from operativepositions, said concave sections, When in operative positions, havinginterlocking engagement one With the other, and means for successivelymoving said movablymounted concave sections to and from intel-lockedoperative positions.

7. In a threshing machine, the combination with a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for coperation with said cylinder, certain of said concavesections being mounted for movement to and from operative positions, anda grate mounted for substantially concentric movement in respect to saidcylinder, said grate having a supplemental section movable therewith,arranged to take the place of any one of said movably mounted concavesections, when in an in-operative position, and to be separated fromsaid grate to permit yone of said movably mounted concave sections to beinserted therebetween.

S. In a threshing machine, the combination With a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for cooperation With said cylinder, certain of said concavesections being mounted for movement to and from operative positions, agrate mounted for substantially concentric movement in respect to saidcylinder, said grate having a supplemental section, arranged to take theplace of any one of said movably mounted concave sections, When in anin-operative position, and means connecting said grate and supplementalsection for common movement, one with the other.

9. In a threshing machine, the combination with a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for coperation With said cylinder, certain of said concavesections being mounted i'or movement to and from operative positions, agrate mounted for substantially concentric movement in respect to saidcylinder, said grate having a supplemental section, arranged to take theplace of any one of said movably mounted concave sections, When in aniii-operative position, and a lock 'for automatically connecting saidgrate and supplemental section when brought together.

lO. In a threshing machine, the combination with a tooth-equippedcylinder, of a concave, comprising a plurality of toothequippedsections, for cooperation With said cylinder certain of said concavesections being mounted 'for movement to and from operative positions, agrate mounted for substantially concentric movement in respect to saidcylinder, said grate having a supplemental section, arranged to take theplace of any one of said movably mounted concave sections, when in aniii-operative position, a lock for automatically connecting said grateand supplemental section When rbrought together, and means for releasingsaid lock from a distant point.

In testimony whereof I afl'lix my signature 1n presence of tivoWitnesses.

JOI-IN A. BERGREN.

Witnesses:

ALICE L. KING, HARRY D. KILGORE.

` Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. f

